Hundreds of warehouse workers and drivers have refused to deliver food to the chain's 71 stores for two weeks, leaving store shelves empty and sending customers elsewhere.

Workers are hoping Arthur S. Demoulas' side of the family will accept an offer from his cousin to buy the company.

Jeremy Webster, the deli manager at Maine's only Market Basket in Biddeford, went to the rally and said he is confident the board of directors will cave to public pressure.

"We're going to win this. The board of directors needs to understand, we're not going to stop until we get what we want and Arthur T. is the one that we want as the owner of this company," said Webster.

Customers at the rally showed the same passion and conviction as employees.

"This man has stuck his neck, literally. That's why the giraffe. He's stuck his neck out so many times for so many people, giving them money, days off, helping them, going to funerals. Participating in things for a cause, it's amazing," said Market Basket customer Nancy Cooper Kindler.

Employees are also putting their jobs on the line. The company's new CEOs issued a deadline of yesterday for protesting employees to return to work or face being fired. Tuesday another member of the Demoulas family urged employees to return saying they have made a public circus out of a private dispute.

Workers aren't backing down.

"I think they're finally going to give in and give us back our stores. I think it's time for them to realize that they've lost the fight," said employee Jim Bevilacqua.